Self-latching power cord for appliances

Abstract

An appliance cord assembly may include a first cord portion including a plug at one end configured to be received by a wall outlet and a plug mount at the opposite end, a second cord portion including a captive end hardwired to an appliance and a free end connected to a panel mount, the panel mount being configured to connect with the plug mount of the first cord portion to create a conductive engagement with the plug mount, such that in the connected state, the plug mount and the panel mount define a key opening, and a service tool configured to be received by the key opening to disconnect the panel mount and plug mount.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An appliance cord assembly, comprising:
 a first cord portion including a plug at one end configured to be received by a wall outlet and a plug mount at the opposite end; 
 a second cord portion including a captive end hardwired to an appliance and a free end connected to a panel mount, the panel mount being configured to connect with the plug mount of the first cord portion to create a conductive engagement with the plug mount, such that in the connected state, the plug mount and the panel mount define a key opening; 
 wherein the panel mount includes a panel lip extending upward from a periphery of the panel mount and the plug mount includes a plug lip extending upward from a periphery of the plug mount and is configured to overlap with the panel lip in the connected state; and 
 a service tool configured to be received by the key opening to pry the panel mount away from the plug mount. 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the service tool includes a key portion configured to correspond to the cross-section of the key opening. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the key portion includes a pointed tip configured to, once inserted into the key opening, engage with and move the panel mount away from the plug mount. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plug mount defines a plug opening and the panel mount defines a panel opening, in the connected state the plug opening and the panel opening align to create the key opening. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the plug mount to the panel mount. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the panel mount includes panel terminals. 
     
     
       7. The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the plug mount includes plug terminals configured to engage with the panel terminals in the connected state to provide the conductive engagement between the plug mount and the panel mount. 
     
     
       8. The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein one of the plug terminals and the panel terminals forms male-type projections and the other forms female-type projections so that the female-type projections receive the male-type projections in the connected state. 
     
     
       9. The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the panel mount defines a panel lip extending upward from a periphery of the panel mount. 
     
     
       10. The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the panel lip has a height greater than that of the panel terminals where the lip provides a shield around the panel terminals. 
     
     
       11. The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the plug mount includes a plug lip extending upward from a periphery of the plug mount and is configured to overlap with the panel lip in the connected state. 
     
     
       12. A universal appliance cord assembly for applicability across multiple geographic locations, comprising:
 a first cord portion including a plug at one end configured to be received by a wall outlet and a plug mount at the opposite end, where the wall outlet is specific to a geographic location and the plug is configured to mate with the geographically specific wall outlet; 
 a second universal cord portion including a captive end hardwired to an appliance and a free end connected to a panel mount, the panel mount being configured to connect with the plug mount of the first cord portion to create a conductive engagement with the plug mount, such that in the connected state, the plug mount and the panel mount define a key opening; and 
 a service tool configured to be received by the key opening and abut the panel mount to pry the panel mount away from the plug mount, wherein once the panel mount and the plug mount are in the connected state, the panel mount and the plug mount are maintained in the connected state until the service tool is received by the key opening. 
 
     
     
       13. The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the service tool includes a key portion configured to correspond to the cross-section of the key opening. 
     
     
       14. The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the key portion includes a pointed tip configured to, once inserted into the key opening, engage with and move the panel mount away from the plug mount. 
     
     
       15. The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the plug mount defines a plug opening and the panel mount defines a panel opening, in the connected state the plug opening and the panel opening align to create the key opening. 
     
     
       16. The assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the plug mount to the panel mount. 
     
     
       17. The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the panel mount includes panel terminals and the plug mount includes plug terminals configured to engage with the panel terminals in the connected state to provide the conductive engagement between the plug mount and the panel mount. 
     
     
       18. The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein one of the plug terminals and the panel terminals forms male-type projections and the other forms female-type projections so that the female-type projections receive the male-type projections in the connected state. 
     
     
       19. The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the panel mount defines a panel lip extending upward from a periphery of the panel mount and wherein the panel lip has a height greater than that of the panel terminals where the lip provides a shield around the panel terminals. 
     
     
       20. An appliance cord assembly, comprising:
 a first cord portion including a plug at one end configured to be received by a wall outlet and a plug mount at the opposite end; 
 a second cord portion including a captive end hardwired to an appliance and a free end connected to a panel mount, the panel mount being configured to connect with the plug mount of the first cord portion to create a conductive engagement with the plug mount, such that in the connected state, the plug mount and the panel mount define a key opening, 
 wherein the panel mount includes a panel lip extending upward from a periphery of the panel mount and the plug mount includes a plug lip extending upward from a periphery of the plug mount and is configured to overlap with the panel lip in the connected state; and 
 a service tool configured to be received by the key opening and abut the mount lip to pry the panel lip away from the plug lip to disengage the panel mount from the plug mount.